[Meccano]

The solubility of phenol in water (g/100 mL water) is 9,3. Hydroquinone (p-dihydroxybenzene) 5.9 g; catechol (o-dihydroxybenzene) 43 g and resorcinol (m-dihydroxybenzene) 110g/100 mL water. What is the reason for this difference in water solubility? Maybe molecular symmetry is involved in the low solubility of hydroquinone, and intra H-bonding is the reason for the lower solubility of catechol compared to resorcinol. But I am only guessing. Any suggestions?

[nj_bartel]

Those were my guesses as well!